Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar spoke to India Today and shared that he idolised the kind of cinema that Manoj Kumar made. The director also recalled reading about the NRIs returning to India after watching Kumar's patriotic film 'Purab Aur Paschim'.
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00:00It's a sad day for the industry because Manoj Kumar passed away today morning.
00:03What are your early memories of the actor?
00:06I think I know Manoj ji from last 20-23 years.
00:10In 2002, I started meeting him.
00:14Obviously, as a kid, we've always been inspired by Manoj Kumar's cinema.
00:19Purab Pachhim, Ukkaar, Roti Kabra Makaam, Shor,
00:24Kranti, all these movies, he was always inspiring and always...
00:27I remember watching his movie so many times in Rishu also, in theatres.
00:32So, when I met him in 2002, post Chandni Bagh,
00:35and he had seen the movie and he was so happy,
00:39that Madhav is the kind of cinema you make.
00:41And then we started meeting each other,
00:43always in some event, functions, or some murat, or some trial show.
00:48And always inspirational, always encouraging.
00:53I used to see all my movies and he used to tell me,
00:55yeh aisa laga, yeh aisa laga.
00:57So, it was great interacting with him.
00:59And then, I love people who have contributed so much for the film industry.
01:04And I've been a big Manoj Kumar fan.
01:06As a filmmaker, I used to always adore him,
01:09the kind of song-picture edition he used to do.
01:11I think, very ahead of time.
01:12I think, till today, I remember that Pyar Ka Nagma, that song of Shor.
01:18I think, he was probably the first person to get slow motion in Indian cinema.
01:23Slow motion song, where Nandaji is running on the beach,
01:26and Satyajit, the small actor, and Manojji playing Boylan.
01:30I think, and probably the first movie I've seen,
01:33where slow motion was introduced on Indian screen.
01:35So, I think, it was very ahead of time, the song-picture edition.
01:38So, always used to see, till today, I'm being very honest with you,
01:42in YouTube of my iPad, I have all Manoj Kumar songs.
01:46So, when I'm sitting in flight, or I'm traveling,
01:48I keep watching his songs, I love the song, this song-picture edition.
01:52I think, screenplay-wise also, I think, Purab Pachin, one movie,
01:56which showed about how Indian culture is so enriched, and so strong.
02:00And I remember, I read an article about it,
02:02that people went to Purab Pachin, they changed their mind,
02:06and they came back to India.
02:08Oh.
02:09So, that was how it resonated with the world.
02:11That is why he's known as Bharat Kumar.
02:13Bharat Kumar, all his movies.
02:15So, I think, his contribution will be always remembered.
02:18People will remember Manoj Kumar, the kind of movies he used to make.
02:21In fact, yesterday night, evening, I would say,
02:24I was sitting with my assistant, who was very genzy of today's.
02:27So, I was sitting, and we were discussing a film, which I'm making.
02:31So, I was just telling them, because in my office, there's two posters.
02:34I think, they're best screenplay.
02:36One is Amar Akbar Anthony, one is Manmohan Desai, and one is Koti Kabra Maka.
02:39And all these people said, what's your role in this?
02:41I said, it's an inspirational film.
02:44So, I was telling my assistant director, I said, please watch this movie.
02:48You learn a lot.
02:50I said, you learn a lot.
02:51The unfolding was so beautiful of Koti Kabra Maka.
02:53Really loved it.
02:54I think, it's really sad today, that Manoj Kumar is no more.
02:58I remember talking to him from one year back.
03:02And on the phone also, he was not well.
03:06And always, I used to talk to him on the phone.
03:08I wish him on Diwali, Holi, Independence Day or something.
03:11You know, always, those are the things.
03:13And when he was free, he used to talk also.
03:15I think, his contribution will be always remembered.
03:18And we'll miss Manoj ji.
03:21How are his families right now?
03:22You just met.
03:22You're the first one to come and meet the family.
03:24Because again, you have a relationship with them.
03:26Yeah, because for so many years, I'm meeting him.
03:28And I was very sad in the morning.
03:31But I met Kunal.
03:33And he said, mother, we should celebrate your kind of contribution.
03:40So, tomorrow you will be here for the funeral?
03:42I think, I'll be going out of town.
03:46Okay.
03:47That is why you came today?
03:48Yeah.
03:48One last word for Manoj sir.
03:57That's all.
03:58All right.
03:58Thank you so much.